Shaft (1971)

Director:

Gordon Parks

Writers:

Ernest Tidyman (screenplay) and
John D.F. Black (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 July 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

The mob wanted Harlem back. They got shaft...up to here.

Plot:

Cool black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapping | Mafia | Detective | Hitman | Tough Guy

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Roundtree	...	John Shaft
Moses Gunn	...	Bumpy Jonas
Charles Cioffi	...	Vic Androzzi
Christopher St. John	...	Ben Buford
Gwenn Mitchell	...	Ellie Moore
Lawrence Pressman	...	Tom Hannon
Victor Arnold	...	Charlie
Sherri Brewer	...	Marcy
Rex Robbins	...	Rollie
Camille Yarbrough	...	Dina Greene
Margaret Warncke	...	Linda
Joseph Leon	...	Byron Leibowitz
Arnold Johnson	...	Cul
Dominic Barto	...	Patsy
George Strus	...	Carmen
Edmund Hashim	...	Lee
Drew Bundini Brown	...	Willy
Tommy Lane	...	Leroy
Al Kirk	...	Sims
Shimen Ruskin	...	Dr. Sam
Antonio Fargas	...	Bunky
Gertrude Jeannette	...	Old Lady
Lee Steele	...	Blind Vendor
Damu King	...	Mal
Donny Burks	...	Remmy
Tony King	...	Davies
Benjamin R. Rixson	...	Bey Newfield
Ricardo Brown	...	Tully
Alan Weeks	...	Gus
Glenn Johnson	...	Char
Dennis Tate	...	Dotts
Adam Wade	...	Brother #1
James Hainesworth	...	Brother #2
Clee Burtonya	...	Sonny
Ed Bernard	...	Peerce
Eddie Barth	...	Tony (as Ed Barth)
Joe Pronto	...	Dom
Robin Nolan	...	Waitress
Ron Tannas	...	Billy
Betty Bresler	...	Mrs. Androzzi
Gonzalo Madurga	...	Counterman
Paul Nevens	...	Elevator Man
Jon Richards	...	Elevator Starter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gordon Parks	...	Apartment Landlord (uncredited)

Directed by
Gordon Parks

Writing credits
Ernest Tidyman		(screenplay) and
John D.F. Black		(screenplay)
Ernest Tidyman		(novel)

Produced by
Joel Freeman	....	producer
David Golden	....	associate producer
Roger Lewis	....	producer (uncredited)
Stirling Silliphant	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Ernest Tidyman	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Isaac Hayes
J.J. Johnson

Cinematography by
Urs Furrer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hugh A. Robertson

Casting by
Judith Lamb

Art Direction by
Emanuel Gerard

Set Decoration by
Robert Drumheller

Costume Design by
Joseph G. Aulisi		(as Joe Aulisi)

Makeup Department
Martin Bell	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steven P. Skloot	....	unit production manager (as Steven Skloot)
David Golden	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ted Zachary	....	assistant director
Kurt Baker	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Alan R. Green	....	dga trainee (uncredited)
Allan Wertheim	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hal Bock	....	chief carpenter (uncredited)
Robert Hart	....	chief construction grip (uncredited)
Jack Wright Jr.	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lee Bost	....	sound
Hal Watkins	....	sound
Charles Geller	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Robert Rogow	....	boom man (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tommy Lane	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Pronto	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Gerolomi	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ronald M. Lautore	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Randy Munkacsi	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Larry Orlick	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ed Quinn	....	second grip (uncredited)
Robert Royal	....	key grip (uncredited)
Jack Volpe	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Ron Zarilla	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Celia Bryant	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Paul L. Evans	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tom McIntosh	....	technical assistant to composer
Mayuto Correa	....	musician (uncredited)
Charles 'Skip' Pitts	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Fanning	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Bud Brown	....	auditor (uncredited)
Ozzie Brown	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Cle Kent	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Tom Miller	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Shaft Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Inex Film (1971) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
• MGM-EMI (1971) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (????) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 (video rating) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (f) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Italy:T | Brazil:14 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

55 Jane Street, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The many movie marquees seen in Shaft's many exterior shots walking around NYC include advertisements for: Patton (1970), Get Carter (1971), Love Story (1970) and The Owl and the Pussycat (1970).

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the movie, in Shaft's office, Shaft changes back and forth between a lighter brown coat and a dark coat. The difference can be seen by noticing the horizontal seam on the back of each coat, one is straight and the other is not.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Shaft:[holding up his middle finger to a cab driver who is honking his horn at him] Up yours! Get out the way!

Movie Connections:

References School for Sex (1969)

Soundtrack:

Theme from Shaft

Timely Take On The Standard Private Detective Formula.

It is an innovative effort, and serves as a snapshot of the times. Shaft, written by Ernest Tidyman, stands as one of the best modern detective dramas. Written and filmed at a time of extreme social unrest throughout the U.S.; the movie shows how Jon Shaft uses his private detective status and ethnicity to retrieve the kidnapped daughter of a notorious Harlem kingpin. While the plot pieces of black militants, and a potential race war in New York City, may not be as relevant in 2001 as they were in 1971, the cast and crew do a good job to convey the importance of Shaft's mission. Shaft, indeed, is one cool cat. Not only is he a ladies' man, but he's also a man about town. He knows every iota of New York City, and uses his detective skills to the fullest. Ducking the city police, and handling his business with the crooks, Shaft plays it cool to the very end. Many people like to bundle the blaxploitation pictures into a neat little package; one to laugh at and check out the music score. Shaft proves there was more meaning to these films, and ends up as a classic display of substance with style.